Decisions

To approve the assignment of lease for The Mayfair Hotel, 99 The Esplanade.

Reason for the Decision

To progress the Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan to referendum so that pending a favourable vote, the plan can be ‘made’. (Current Regulations linked to the Coronavirus Act 2020 mean that no neighbourhood plan referendums can take place until 6 May 2021. However, the Government’s Planning Practice Guidance has been updated and sets out that neighbourhood plans that have been subject to a decision statement, stating that they can proceed to referendum, can be given significant weight in decision-making.)

Alternative Options considered and rejected

The Council can decide not to follow the recommendations of the Examiner, but it must set out its reasons for doing so.

The Council has agreed to accept all of the Examiner’s recommendations made within his report (Appendix A).

Consultation

The plan has been subject to a large amount of public consultation as it has been progressed.

Budget Implications

Once a referendum date has been set, the Council becomes eligible for a grant of £20,000. This grant is intended to cover the costs associated with the Council’s input into the production of the neighbourhood plan including the examination and referendum. The grant of £20,000 will be sufficient to cover the costs associated with the examination and referendum.

Legal implications

A legal challenge could theoretically be made against a decision to proceed to referendum. Such a challenge could be made on the basis that the neighbourhood plan, as modified, does not meet the basic conditions, is not compatible with the Convention rights or because it does not comply with the definition of a neighbourhood development plan. However, the independent Examiner has considered these matters in light of all of the objections that have been made to the plan.  Given the evidence before them, officers consider that there is no basis for reaching a different view to the Examiner

Decision.

a)    The Puddletown Neighbourhood Plan 2019-2031, as modified (please see Appendix B), can proceed to referendum.

b)    A recommendation to ‘make’ the Puddletown  Neighbourhood Plan 2019-2031 be made to a Cabinet meeting after the referendum if the result of the referendum is in support of making the plan and there are no other issues identified that would go against such a decision.

Decision: To set and agree the trade waste prices for 2021-22

It was decided to apply ‘option 2’ where a price increase will be applied to only those items projected to operate at a loss.

It was decided to review the pricing strategy and service position before the mid-year point in 2021-22.

This decision is delegated to the Executive Director for Place under Dorset Councils Scheme of Delegation.

That the Corfe Mullen Parish area be designated a neighbourhood area.

Scheme of delegation

Under the Officer Scheme of Delegation (April 2019), the Executive Director of Place has the power to ‘make a final determination as to whether to designate a neighbourhood plan area and/or make such an area a business area’.

The Local Scheme of Nomination sets out which functions have been nominated by the Executive Director of Place and any conditions or limitations. This includes the power ‘to designate neighbourhood plan areas (where the Council must exercise its powers to designate the specified area applied for as a neighbourhood plan area) and neighbourhood forums’. The only condition/limitation is that the ‘Ward members and the relevant Portfolio Holder being informed’.

That the press and the public were excluded for the following 2 item(s) in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

Decision

That the revised fees and charges as set out in the recommendations to the executive bodies of the two councils (n Appendices 1-2 of the report to the Joint Archives Advisory Board of 5 February 2021) be approved for implementation from 1 April 2021.

Reason for decision

To sustain the Joint Archives Service’s budget and income levels through robust and benchmarked charging for services.

To receive a report on the key findings of the EAP and consider recommendations for future support of youth provision in Dorset.

Decision

(a)       That the findings set out in the report of 2 March 2021 be noted;

(b)       That the implementation of the recommendations of the Youth Executive Advisory Panel (EAP) be supported and endorsed.

Reason for the decision

The cross party EAP gathered information on the current youth offer and plans for its development to support the delivery of the council’s plan.

To agree the level of redundancy enhancement for all Dorset Council employees from 1 April 2021, following the end of the current agreement.

Decision

(a)       That the current 1.75 redundancy multiplier be extended for a further 12 months. This rate will be introduced for all employees.

(b)       That a further review of the redundancy multiplier takes place towards the end of 2021, to ensure any agreement of a new rate of redundancy

multiplier from 1 April 2022 takes into consideration any potential

reintroduction of an Exit Pay Cap or reforms to the Local Government

Pension Scheme.

Reason for the decision

The impact of Covid-19 has seen some delays in progressing

convergence activity across the council and which will result in employees

being made redundant after 31st March 2021. If the council introduces a

reduction to its level of redundancy multiplier this will result in employees

in these areas being treated less favourably than those that have been

included in reviews already taken forward.

To develop an alternative delivery model for Information Advice Guidance and Tracking ( IAGT) for young people not in education, employment or training ( NEET) currently provided through an externally commissioned voluntary and community sector provider.

To approve all proposed individual key decisions with financial consequences of £500k or more for procurement activity during the period 2021-2022.

Decision

That Cabinet agrees

(a)       To begin each of the procurement processes listed in Appendix 1 to the

report.

(b)       That in each instance the further step of making any contract award be delegated to the relevant Portfolio Holder, in consultation with the relevant Executive Director.

Reason for the decision

Cabinet is required to approve all key decisions with financial consequences of £500k or more. It is also good governance to provide Cabinet with a summary of all proposed procurements prior to them formally commencing.

The strategy outlines the policies & mitigation approach to the impact of vehicular emissions from new development on protected habitats & species.

Decision

(a)       That the Dorset Heathlands Interim Air Quality Strategy covering the period 2020-2025 be adopted;

(b)       That up to £187,000 be allocated from CIL to fund a project coordinator, delivery of projects and monitoring over a five year period.

Reason for the decision

An interim strategy is needed to allow the Council to continue granting planning permission for new development and facilitating growth. The proposed interim strategy will simplify the planning application process by removing the need for applicants to identify and implement bespoke mitigation projects, in most cases, to mitigate the air quality impact of developments upon the Dorset Heathlands. Work needs to begin immediately on identifying and implementing projects.

Report seeks support to review & refresh the joint Local Transport Plan with BCP to align with the emerging Local Plans and other recent policy changes. The new plan will steer our future transport strategy for Dorset and how we spend our £1.9M annual allocation from DfT. 

Decision

That the commitment of resources within existing budgets be agreed, to

take forward the revised Local Transport Plan, associated area transport strategies and other supporting strategies.

Reason for the decision

To seeking support to review and refresh the joint Local Transport Plan jointly with BCP to align with the emerging Local Plans. The new plan will steer the future transport strategy for Dorset and how we spend our £1.9M Local Transport Capital Block Funding allocation from DfT.

This item seeks to reaffirm the Council's commitment to forward funding and agreement of associated terms.  This item was deferred from cabinet of 2 March 2021.

Decision

(a)       That Dorset Council stops directly funding tourist information centres (TICs) in Dorchester, Sherborne and Wareham.

(b)       That Dorset Council continues to work with the Town Councils and/or other local services and will consider one-off support funding for suitable transitionary arrangements to reduce the impact of the closure of the TIC on local people.

(c)        That authority be delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Customer and Community Services, in consultation with the Executive Director for Place, to agree any support payment arrangements.

(d)       That Dorset Council continues to promote Dorset as a visitor destination through its Visit Dorset website.

Reasons for the decision

(a)       TICs are a discretionary service and there is currently disparity across the council area. Dorset Council cannot afford to fund TICs across the whole of the Council area.

(b)       To support local alternatives, for example via Town Council, that may wish to facilitate transitionary arrangements in place of TIC services.

(c)        To provide transitionary funding, for example via Town Councils, that may wish to support alternative arrangements in place of TIC services.

(d)       To support the tourism sector to attract visitors to Dorset, particularly

focussing on extending the tourism season.

Decision

(a)       That the progress against the Council Plan priorities as show in Appendix 1 of the report to Cabinet of 2 March 2021 be noted;

(b)       That the amended Council Plan performance monitoring framework as shown in appendix 2 of the report be agreed.

Reason for the decision

To ensure progress toward the Council Plan is measured and monitored.

To renew the lease of Unit C2, Marabout Industrial Estate, Dorchester.

The Chairman referred to the recent internal interviewing process for the appointment to the post of Corporate Director (Children) – Care and Protection.

As a member of the cross-party interviewing panel, the Chairman proposed that Sara-Jane Smedmor be appointed to the post.  This was seconded by Cllr S Jones.

Decision

That Sarah-Jane Smedmor be appointed to the permanent position of Corporate Director (Children) – Care and Protection.

Reason for decision

As required by the Dorset Council constitution, the role of Executive Director People – Children required the approval of the Staffing Committee.